Chapter 7
Jason
A Story
The quick conversation with Steven was not fun, but they were prepared to act as totally dedicated to the Regime with no secret agenda of their own. They had decided on the Verlen speech that the Great Leader had made after taking power of the government at that time. Brian had given them highlights and so it was quite easy even for Aloohula to appear blindly dedicated. It was like being able to take that deep breath without fear of anyone knowing how they really felt.
They arrive Downstairs and both Brian and Jason give their names and place their thumb on the sensor. Jason turns to Aloohula, "So give us a couple of minutes and then give your name. I just want to see what it is like when a name is given." Aloohula nods as this was already planned. Then he and Brian walk quickly to the room where the night person stays and watches the cameras. That individual also cares for the children in the evening making sure that they have their needs taken care of and do not try to have little adventures of their own. First he wants to verify that there is no monitoring going on in front of the room. Jason then walks back to another room and lets the instructor know that they will be doing the test and to not let anyone in until they finish testing the speaker.
Brian shakes his head in amazement, "Just how many Brians are there on this ship?" He shakes his head again, "Couldn't they find another name for all of us."
"They try to have names that are common and not overly different to each ship's docking location and then a name that is similar enough to our real names. Our Earth name is to be like a nickname that we use, it is so we don't feel so alien I guess." Jason stretches a bit and tries to relax. He is tired of all of the stress. "I really don't like that other Brian, the one the kids call bad Brian, the SSG guy. It is like hanging out with an evil spirit that entered someone's body and took over."
"I actually feel for you, but you don't have to meet up with Diana soon." Then Brian turns with a puzzled look, "When are you doing the Bermuda thing? You keep going, but return the same day."
"I don't think that they are finding what they thought they would, so far no magic portal to who knows where." He shakes his head and then shrugs, "We go, we come back, we go again. I swear it is like an endless loop. Neither of them are very nice, the way they treat Carl is wrong."
"Yeah, they really like the dark realm," Brian says quickly and then pauses for a moment, "I think the humans would say they are going to hell in a handbasket." He shrugs and smiles. "Don't ask me what that means, I have no idea."
"Those kids, too many Brian's." Jason shakes his head and looks to Brian and then to where the speaker is located. "They are hearing Brian over the speaker when they are near this room, but I have a feeling that the voice isn't clear enough to really identify the voice itself. When Aloohula announces himself we will have an idea what they may have been hearing."
"What is your plan though? If they are hearing who they think it is, you can't really improve that."
The speaker calls out, "Aloohula here."
"Yeah, that is muddled," Brian says.
"The speaker calls out again, "Aloohula 123."
Jason walks into the building and presses a button. "I will be right back, want to let the woman know she has control of the door again."
"Like she cares," Brian says rolling his eyes up to the ceiling.
"Yeah, for sure," Jason mutters and leaves to let her know that they are done with their test.
When he comes out Aloohula is standing there and both he and Brian are staring at him. Finally, Aloohula asks, "What is the plan?"
There is a sound and the woman comes out asking how long they will be there. After he talks to her for a moment he invites Aloohula and Brian to his room for a few minutes.
When they enter the room, Alex and Kelly are sitting playing a computer game and acknowledge they see them, but don't stop playing. Only Jason sits and points to Aloohula and Brian to take a seat, but they shake their heads indicating they are happy standing.
Jason smiles and glaces up to Aloohula, "You all excited about going on our next outing?"
Aloohula snarls and says nothing.
Brian tilts his head and asks, "Where are you going? A new place?"
"It's called Puma Punku, I guess it is in someplace called Bolivia. The SSG think it was destroyed in a way that could not have been other than an explosion. Which they find odd unless a meteor struck it or as they think the ancient visitors destroyed it for some reason." Jason gives Brian a dark look for a moment, "The new fantasy story is that SSG believe that the ancients created the buildings and not the humans or at least some of the buildings. The temples in the Puma Punku complex have precision cut stones including some weighing over ten tons and laid intricately into place. They were built over twelve thousand years ago. Have to say pretty impressive and makes you wonder how the humans did it back then. We couldn't have either and of course they are still unsure what its true purpose was at the time. Oh, and they are still doing studies on those called Mayans."
Aloohula snarls, "I hate all of this looking for the so called clues or information so that the Great One can be made a god or a whatever. Already heard about some stone pillar with a carving of those peoples leader in Puma Punku and that he is wearing a beard. I overheard those two SSG's saying that the humans living there would not have grown beards or been around humans who did have beards. The SSG are saying the stone that is depicting those people's leader is actually an ancient who ruled over them and he was training them to be there to fulfill the new gods needs or Our Leader's when he comes to power. Since those humans haven't been around for a long time and the place was destroyed according to the SSG, I guess that means they won't be assisting the new god."
Jason has also heard that this place holds one of the keys of preparing the Great One for his place as a god or guardian as well even though the place was destroyed. One thing he is pretty sure about is that the Great Leader isn't on this planet for water or to save the lives of his people. His true goal is to become as Aloohula has said a god and worse the SSG will support him even if they must give their lives or others in order to make him their god. It comes to him that their conversation in this room has gone off track and they need to finish the topic of the name first. "Okay, let's talk about the Brian problem."
"Yes, I am a problem," Brian says with a smirk.
"So what do we do?" Aloohula asks impatiently.
He looks directly at Brian, "We come up with names and then all three of the Brian's will have to adhere to them when announcing themselves Downstairs." Jason then looks at Aloohula and back to Brian as neither of them say anything. "You have no ideas, any of you?"
"Well, I have an idea for bad Brian," Brian says with a smirk. "We call him Brian666. It is like an evil beast in the human Bible. I take it you will be assigning the names."
Alex turns his head and smiles as both he and Kelly have left their game and have joined the discussion going on. "Yes! It is an evil beast with lots of heads and horns. From what I heard about the guy it fits."
"Yes, tell him it is a name with a supernatural blessing or something. Trust me even if he researches it, he will love it." Aloohula says with a grin. He and Brian smile at Jason.
"So Brian666, now about the guy who fixes stuff." Jason says, looking at all of them.
"Well, I saw Willie today and he said he is nice person." Brian says, "Is there a good number that would fit someone who fixes stuff in an emergency?"
"Someone told me about the number 911, it is one of the humans devices; I mean phone numbers. Maybe you told me Brian, anyway it is a number to reach out for help if there is an emergency." Kelly is nodding and has a large smile, "Nice number because he wants to help and is not there to hurt someone."
Everyone agrees with that one and then everyone turns to Brian who then frowns, "Look I don't need a number. We give a number to those other two,"
"Yes, you do or the other two won't like it!" Jason says impatiently.
"Okay, whatever. Call me Brian210." Brian says with a grin.
Jason gives him an inquiring look, "Don't get it. You came up with that fast. What is the special meaning?"
Before Brian can say anything both Kelly and Alex are laughing. Kelly looks to Alex and then says with a chuckle, "It means 0 1 2, but turn it around and it is 210." Both he and Alex begin laughing and after a moment Aloohula joins them with Jason shaking his head.
"What you two are saying is that he sees himself as number one in the Brian's." Jason glares at Brian, "Why not just 001. Always have to be number one don't you buddy," Jason says still shaking his head.
"Of course," Brian says with a smile and again Alex and Kelly are laughing.
They talk about getting the names to Brian666 and Brian911. Then Brian's device sounds, when he looks at it he is frowning.
"Are you okay? Can you say?" Jason has a bad feeling from the look on Brian's face that something is wrong.
"Diana, wants me to come up to her room." Brian shakes his head, "I hid from her for so long. I just wanted her to forget me. However, I have had to place myself in her path if I am to get the code we need."
No one is smiling now as the hard truth is they need Brian to do this and they also know how much he doesn't want too.
"It's on me. I wanted her and then I understood who she truly was. I did what she wanted, even though it was so wrong."
Jason snaps, "You would have been dead if you hadn't. I warned you that day. I am sorry for that girl, but that was the way it was. You're still breathing, so let it go. Now, I am sorry. . ." He shakes his head, "You have to do this for, Our Own Thing."
"I have no idea how I am to do that," Brian sits on Jason's bed just looking down at his lap. "I know I have too, but I don't know how. It feels sick, like I'm a spy, like evil, but if I don't, then we don't move forward." He looks at his device for a moment and then sends a message to Diana that he will be there immediately.
"Well, our good-time sure went south," Aloohula says as he sits down heavily on Alex's bed. "You have to go tonight, but couldn't Becky use a drone after this. I mean open the door so to speak to Diana tonight so that the next time you can bring a tiny drone in and. . ."
Jason interrupts him, "Getting caught would end our movement altogether. However, Aloohula is right tonight is opening the door. Just take a deep breath and know that although we can do nothing for now to help you, that we need and appreciate this. We have to have the pass code."
They each try to make a comment to uplift Brian, but in the end they find there is nothing to say and it seems to be making it worse for him. With a shrug Aloohula simply says, "You need to go. Remember there is a goal and you may think you did something evil once, but if we haven't already done our own evil; then we will likely do so before we can fulfill our goal. Our goal is to leave this dark path as you like to say and sometimes it takes dark acts to finish, let us all hope that we have the courage as you. You are doing something brave as far as I am concerned." The rest nod in agreement.
"Right, I am doing good!" Brian exclaims, but seems to be staring at the floor unable to move. Finally he sighs, "I have to go. We won't talk about the private stuff, promise you won't ask me. I have to bring my mind to a place that this can happen. I gotta be all happy sex and all focused on the goal and get the pass code, a lot of stuff. Have no freaking idea how I do this." He stands and stares at them for a moment and then just leaves.
"I am so sorry that he must do this. He made mistakes, but this isn't the way to pay for them," Kelly says in a despairing way. "I feel like we are the ones putting him right in front of a firing squad. That is one scary woman and he knows now that there is nothing kind about her. Also, he knows what his fate could be if she finds out why he suddenly is complying to her wishes."
"We need the codes, if there was another way that would be great," Aloohula looks to each of them giving a solemn stare. "It would be great if no one had to make this sacrifice. Remember though he went willingly and happily to her bed before and only after did he find out who she really is. Perhaps this was fate making him ready for what must be done, he will be fine. Brian knows how to deal with her. Please, keep positive thoughts and don't try making it worse by saying anything negative to him when it comes to this."
"You're right, we need the codes and Brian is the one." Jason says with a quiet voice. "Lets just go over the name change and any other things we may have on the list and then I guess Aloohula and Kelly need to go to bed. Remember as Aloohula said positive thoughts and try not to make a fuss and make Brian uncomfortable."
Nothing is said for sometime before they go back to discussing the name changes. Jason is afraid once Brian is back in Diana's path he may not be able to get out of it again. He is fully aware that Diana doesn't like being betrayed even though the individual doing the betraying may not have any idea that they did anything to be thought of as a betrayal.
"I guess I better go," Aloohula stands and stretches, then he turns and looks down at Jason. "Again don't worry about him, he knows the price and is willing to pay."
"Yeah, I guess." Jason then pauses, "I guess we all have or will as time goes on, but the sacrifice is something we all appear willing to make. We have no family on this ship except the one that we are making currently and this family supports our goal. We also, have no mate and therefore no children. Sacrifice should not be a question, we made the decision to go with this and leave, we can do it. Like it or not sacrifice is part of it."
A few comments are made about the sacrifice they may each have to make one day. Alex then takes a breath and gives Jason an inquisitive stare. "I know you are not really doing anything now with the Bermuda Triangle and it sounds like the SSG are looking at that new place. However, they must be doing something else besides these on site visits. Like to that place called Puma Pa, sorry I forgot the name. Meaning the SSG and their supernatural quest."
"They will never give up their search for the Anyx. They think it has something to do with some old Mayan ruins." Jason says. "The Puma Punku, is just another place on the list with another something. I don't think they are happy lately. It was just one place and they did a lot of study on these Mayan ruins, then they drag Carl, Aloohula and I all over the place. We no sooner get there and we're back on the ship with no idea why we left in the first place." He shakes his head, "Makes no sense and likely never will."
Aloohula looks perplexed, "What's an Anyx? I didn't know about that."
Jason smirks, "It is some artifact hidden on this planet Earth. It is said to contain the power to destroy the human species or ours, but he is to be given this power so that he can be protector or god of the universe. The Anyx will completely destroy our people or the humans or maybe both. Basically it is supposed to be for the one to become the guardian or god, which is what I think they are going for." He shakes his head, "It is meant for Our Great One only. Literally, it is meant for him only according to the SSG. The Puma Punku, is the new place, whatever it is supposed to mean seems to change all of the time, because they haven't got a clue. The Bermuda Triangle has not given them their doorway to travel the universe although they keep looking as they still think that portal is out there."
"So this Anyxie thing is only on this planet and not ours. Our planet supposedly is where the god to be is from." Kelly says frowning.
"No, only some parts are here." Jason shrugs, "I have to say there are odd drawings on our planet that have been found and some ancient artifacts are very similar here on this planet. As for the Anyx, I am not sure if finding a really scary weapon is they way to go."
"So who left this Anyx thing?" Aloohula asks as he gives Jason a perplexed stare.
"The ancient visitors who came to our planet, I have given this story before, it has not changed." Jason tilts his head to Aloohula, but then realizes that this really is all very confusing. He can't even keep up with the ever changing story that the SSG are giving him and that is likely because they have no clue either. He gives Aloohula a shrug, "You have seen the way the SSG act, they get excited and then angry. Although each time we go out I am learning more and more. It is unsettling how much we have found on our planet and now even I can see that there are relics that are exactly the same here on this planet." He turns to Aloohula and gives a shrug, "They have you doing your watcher thing, in a way you're lucky you don't have to listen to them make up a story and then change the story each time. I can't keep up with their reasoning."
"What is the Mayan thing, is this where the Anyx is?" Aloohula asks with a curious gaze.
"No, yes; I don't know." Jason shrugs, "As I said, I learn this stuff bit by bit and it seems to change all the time, seriously they have no idea. I do know that there is some calendar that these ancient humans created. It has this world ending at the end of what humans call December, but not until their year two thousand twelve. Supposedly they are taking me and Carl to someplace in Guatemala's Peten region where they have found ruins of buildings. Again they want to get there before humans find what is left of these ancient ruins and the relics that the Great One will want. It is always all about the Anyx, but I have no idea if we are actually looking for the Anyx this time or another calendar. Maybe they are searching for some other worldly thing on the coming trip. The humans have studied this calendar already and say the reason the calendar ends is due to their world ending."
Alex is frowning, "Is this when this world ends or our world, or both of our worlds end?"
Jason sighs, "The SSG doesn't know. They do believe that finding the Anyx will give him the power, but I don't know about the other stuff. I did hear them talking together with Diana that the date is when the ancient visitors will come back. I don't know if it is our world or this one. So again, it is all up in the air; either ancient scary visitors come and give Our Great One powers to rule the universe or the calendar is the date when something ends, a world or universe or. . ." His voice trails off, he has no idea what to say about any of this.
"They really believe all of this confusing stuff?" Kelly asks and bites his lip, then he looks at the wall blankly as though he is trying to understand everything being said.
"The SSG are saying that these ancient visitors came to our world and taught us what we needed to know and did the same with the humans. The SSG believe that different ancient relics here and at home are all about these ancient visitors. Why they have decided to make Our Great One the ruler or god or something I have no idea. I sometimes wonder if they even know what is going on, I mean the SSG. I can tell you that Diana is working on creating a certain organ for the Our Leader to give him his super-duper supernatural powers. Funny, the SSG are saying that these ancient visitors created our different people by driving many of the Dahax away from their homes. Once they did that the ancient visitors modified them so that they could create the Depol and the Ibrea. The Whipelli are an accident and the way they talk, they are of no relevance to any of this. As for the humans, the ancient visitors started life here as there was no intelligent life, which means that they would have actually came to this world first as humans and our people are very close in age. So maybe humans are the ancient visitors chosen people. Well, except to get his extra special organ he needs to use the Whipelli."
Aloohula slaps his hands together and laughs, everyone gives him an odd look. He shrugs, "These supposedly smart ancient visitors as you call them chose humans and our people to have some great significance in the universe. Our people and humans, two worlds with the most messed up people in the universe." Aloohula laughs and holds up a hand, "Oh! Wait, Whipelli aren't even supposed to ever come about. Now if the ancient visitors created the humans and us; then how did the Whipelli come about. Oh, wait for the extra special organ." He puts up a hand up to his mouth and mumbles, "My mouth hurts now from smiling so hard."
Alex is grinning, "Apparently the ancient visitors had no clear idea of their path."
For a few minutes they all laugh and when they stop Jason sighs, "This lunacy though is why we really are here. We've talked about this already, we know it is not for water, we could get that on asteroids and such. If we needed the water to come from Earth we could have used our really sneaky way of settling in their Antarctica. We could gather the ice without notice for some time and when discovered we give a touchy feelie lie or just leave. No, I think it is because the Great Leader wants to be ruler of the universe and he's insane and decided on this insanity. In his mind I don't even think he cares if our people or the humans survive, he just wants his supernatural abilities so he can become the god he believes himself to be."
Kelly sighs, "We aren't the only ones with a wacky leader. Humans have had one called Hitler and other terrifying dictators. Not just us and the humans, who knows the other planets with intelligent life forms may have had or do have some leader who claims some supernatural gift, I am a god thing."
"It's going to be interesting as time goes on." Jason says with a smirk.
"You mean his being a god?" Aloohula asks with a puzzeled look.
"It may be a mixed up story, but when it comes to Our Great Leader it is his story. All of this lunacy is due to this story." Jason says with a smile and then he points to the door, "Good-night. Go to bed and just know we are working on our own story one we hope is a bit more boring."
He receives many smiles and Aloohula reaches over and places a hand on his shoulder and whispers, "I sure hope in the end we get the most boring story ever."